Every week we’ll share a summary of the previous week’s key stories, to give you a taste of the in-depth news, data, insight and analysis available when you subscribe to Sportcal. If you are interested in finding out more about accessing our premium content,
please click here or
contact us at clientservices@sportcal.com or call +44 (0) 20 8944 8786

Morgan strikes out on own after ending HSBC sponsorship stint

Business - 09 Nov 2017

Author: Simon Ward

By Simon Ward

Giles Morgan, the global head of sponsorship and events at HSBC, has left the international banking giant after 12 years to set up his own consultancy.

Morgan (pictured), a vocal advocate for the sports sponsorship industry, plans to offer his expertise in the market to public and private sector organisations, rights-holders, brands, agencies and media.

He joined HSBC as global head of
sponsorship in 2005, and took on responsibility for events at the start of
2010.

HSBC is a prominent sponsor of golf and rugby union, in particular, and Morgan has overseen strategy and activation for events across the globe, from elite to grassroots level, with a focus on core markets such as Asia and the UK.

His new company G.D. Morgan is
offering advisory services and thought leadership to stakeholders throughout
the sports sponsorship industry, specialising in Asia, the development of youth
and women’s sport and participation strategies in sponsorship.

Morgan believes it is the right time to strike out on his own, telling Sportcal: “After 12 years of running global sponsorship strategy and portfolio for HSBC I have left the bank. The sports industry faces one of the most exciting crossroads in its history with the growth of sport in Asia, an ongoing media revolution, the rapid commercialisation of professional women’s sport and the expansion of societal and participation sports and leisure.

“I will be providing senior counsel to rights
holders, the public and private sector and media and help navigate them at this
exciting time in our industry. Having worked in 25 markets in a number of
sports and other associative platforms, I look forward to playing a role in the
next chapter in the rapidly evolving sports industry.”

Morgan's engagements at HSBC have included golf’s British Open, WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the Women’s HSBC Champions in Singapore, rugby union’s HSBC Sevens World Series, HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series and the British and Irish Lions team’s tours of South Africa in 2009 and Australia in 2013, plus tennis’ Wimbledon Championships.

He has also worked on HSBC UK’s lead partnership of British Cycling, the result of an eight-year deal which came into effect at the start of 2017, the bank’s arts and culture sponsorships and its 150th anniversary celebrations in 2015, which focused on community and CSR programmes and events in Hong Kong, London and Shanghai.

Prior to joining HSBC, Morgan held senior executive positions at sports and entertainment agency Craigie Taylor International and its successor Gem London, part of CSS Stellar, and subsequently had a short stint as managing director of sports marketing and sponsorship at communications firm Hill and Knowlton.

He is a regular, and often outspoken, speaker on sponsorship at conferences and in the media.

HSBC declined to comment when asked by Sportcal if Morgan is to be directly replaced.

Last month, the bank announced that John Flint, currently chief executive of retail banking and wealth management, is to succeed the retiring Stuart Gulliver as executive director and group chief executive in February of next year.